Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

Cabinet of New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment

Minister of Economic Development
Simon Joseph Bridges

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1976.

2016 – 2017

Melissa Ji-yun Lee

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1966.

2023 – 2025

Minister for Economic Growth
Nicola Valentine Willis

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 7 1981.

2025 – present


Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Paul Jonathan Goldsmith

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971.

2014 – 2016


Minister for Digitising Government
Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2023 – present


Minister for Space
Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2023 – present


Department of Corrections

Minister of Corrections
Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2008 – 2011

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2015 – 2016

Louise Claire Upston

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1971.

2016 – 2017

Mark Patrick Mitchell

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 22 1968.

2023 – present


Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Minister for Arts, Culture, and Heritage
Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 26 1980.

2017 – 2020

Carmel Jean Sepuloni

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1977.

2020 – 2023

Paul Jonathan Goldsmith

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971.

2023 – present


New Zealand Customs Service

Minister of Customs
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1972 – 1975

Melissa Heni Mekameka “Meka” Whaitiri

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 11 1965.

2017 – 2018

Melissa Heni Mekameka “Meka” Whaitiri

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 11 1965.

2020 – 2023


Ministry of Defence

Minister of Defence
Gerard Anthony “Gerry” Brownlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 4 1956.

2014 – 2017

Mark Patrick Mitchell

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 22 1968.

2017

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2023 – present


Ministry of Education

Minister of Education
Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 21 1942.

1989

Christopher John “Chris” Hipkins

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1978.

2017 – 2023

Erica Louise Stanford

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1978.

2023 – present


New Zealand Electricity Authority

Minister of Energy and Resources
Gerard Anthony “Gerry” Brownlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 4 1956.

2008 – 2011

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2016 – 2017

Minister for Energy
Simeon Peter Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 8 1991.

2023 – 2025

Simon Glen Watts

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971/1972.

2025 – present


Ministry of the Environment

Minister of the Environment
Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 21 1942.

1987 – 1990

Amy Juliet Adams

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1971.

2012 – 2014

Penelope Elsie “Penny” Simmonds

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 1959.

2023 – present


Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Michael Kenneth “Mike” Moore

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 28 1949; d. February 2 2020.

1990

Winston Raymond Peters

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1945.

2005 – 2008

Gerard Anthony “Gerry” Brownlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 4 1956.

2017

Winston Raymond Peters

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1945.

2017 – 2020

Grant Murray Robertson

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 30 1971.

2023

Winston Raymond Peters

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1945.

2023 – present


Minister of Overseas Trade
Michael Kenneth “Mike” Moore

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 28 1949; d. February 2 2020.

1984 – 1990

Minister of Trade
Todd Michael McClay

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 22 1968.

2015 – 2017

Todd Michael McClay

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 22 1968.

2023 – present


Ministry of Health

Minister of Health
Christopher John “Chris” Hipkins

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1978.

2020

Simeon Peter Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 8 1991.

2025 – present


Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

Minister of Housing
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1974 – 1975


Immigration New Zealand

Minister of Immigration
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1989 – 1990

Erica Louise Stanford

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1978.

2023 – present


Inland Revenue

Minister of Revenue
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1984 – 1987

Todd Michael McClay

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 22 1968.

2013 – 2015

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2016 – 2017

Simon Glen Watts

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971/1972.

2023 – present


Ministry of Justice

Minister of Justice
Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 21 1942.

1984 – 1989

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2011 – 2014

Amy Juliet Adams

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1971.

2014 – 2017

Paul Jonathan Goldsmith

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971.

2023 – present


Minister for Courts
Kerry James “Chester” Borrows

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 20 1957; d. February 27 2023.

2011 – 2014

Amy Juliet Adams

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1971.

2014 – 2017

Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1960.

2020 – 2023

Nicole Raima McKee

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971/1972.

2023 – present


Crown Law Office

Attorney-General of New Zealand
Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 21 1942.

1984 – 1989

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2023 – present


Ministry for Māori Development

Minister of Native Affairs
Sir Āpirana Turupa Ngata

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 3 1874; d. July 14 1950.

1928 – 1934

Minister of Māori Affairs
Winston Raymond Peters

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1945.

1990 – 1991


Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Minister for Pacific Peoples
Alfred Ngaro

Date of birth/date of death: b. ??.

2016 – 2017

Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1960.

2017 – 2023


New Zealand Police

Minister for Police
Margaret Ann Hercus

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1942.

1984 – 1987

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2008 – 2011

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2015 – 2016

Christopher John “Chris” Hipkins

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1978.

2022 – 2023

Mark Patrick Mitchell

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 22 1968.

2023 – present


New Zealand Post Office

Postmaster-General of New Zealand
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1972 – 1974


Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Minister for National Security and Intelligence
John Phillip Key

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 9 1961.

2014 – 2016

Christopher John “Chris” Hipkins

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1978.

2023

Christopher Mark Luxon

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 19 1970.

2023 – present


Public Service Commission

Minister for the Public Service
Christopher John “Chris” Hipkins

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1978.

2017 – 2023

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2025 – present


Ministry of Science and Innovation

Minister of Science and Innovation
Paul Jonathan Goldsmith

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971.

2016 – 2017

Judith Anne Collins

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1959.

2023 – 2025


Ministry of Social Development

Minister for Social Development
Margaret Ann Hercus

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1942.

1984 – 1987

Carmel Jean Sepuloni

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1977.

2017 – 2023

Louise Claire Upston

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1971.

2023 – present


Statistics New Zealand

Minister of Statistics
Mark Patrick Mitchell

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 22 1968.

2016 – 2017


Television New Zealand/Radio New Zealand

Minister of Broadcasting
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1972 – 1975

Minister for Communications
Simon Joseph Bridges

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1976.

2016 – 2017

Minister for Media and Communications
Melissa Ji-yun Lee

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1966.

2023 – 2024

Paul Jonathan Goldsmith

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1971.

2024 – present


Tourism New Zealand

Minister of Tourism
Michael Kenneth “Mike” Moore

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 28 1949; d. February 2 2020.

1984 – 1987

Louise Claire Upston

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1971.

2025 – present


Ministry of Transport

Minister of Transport
Gerard Anthony “Gerry” Brownlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 4 1956.

2011 – 2014

Simon Joseph Bridges

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1976.

2014 – 2017

Simeon Peter Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 8 1991.

2023 – 2025


The Treasury

Minister of Finance
Roger Owen Douglas

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1879; d. April 8 1959

1984 – 1988

Grant Murray Robertson

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 30 1971.

2017 – 2023

Nicola Valentine Willis

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 7 1981.

2023 – present


Treasurer of New Zealand
Winston Raymond Peters

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1945.

1996 – 1998


Ministry for Women

Minister for Women’s Affairs
Margaret Ann Hercus

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1942.

1984 – 1987

Louise Claire Upston

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1971.

2014 – 2016


WorkSafe New Zealand

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
Carmel Jean Sepuloni

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1977.

2023